Got Genealogy Academy

November 14-15, 2009
Friday and Saturday
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Marriott Courtyard Oakland Emeryville

CGS member Lisa B. Lee sent word about the upcoming, inaugural session of the Got Genealogy Academy:

This two-day, hands-on class promises to help students master the world of online genealogy, to help make doing research online second nature, and to help them find information about their ancestors they'd never found before. During the class, each student will be research his or her OWN FAMILY FILE.

The Got Genealogy Academy is the" brainchild" of Lisa, a professional genealogist and self-described "computer nerd" who once served CGS on the Board of Directors.

The PRE-REQUISITES are listed on the Web site:
1. Pedigree chart of your own family, minimum three generations, including you.
2. A basic understanding of computers.
3. A minimum of one year’s experience doing genealogy.
4. A good sense of humor - we intend to have a ton of fun while doing some serious learning.

Lisa has also generously donated a full-tuition scholarship to one lucky CGS member. The prize will be awarded at this Saturday's volunteer reception, Thanksgiving at CGS!

For more information about the Got Genealogy Academy, visit the Web site: www.GotGenealogy.com.

Member Spotlight: Dick Smith

After months and months of effort, CGS recently unveiled the society's new Web site. Scores of volunteers at the California Genealogical Society contributed in many ways – writing copy, taking photographs, meeting to discuss layout and content, readying databases and much, much more. But the real hero is Richard A. "Dick" Smith who directed the project from start to finish and did an incredible job as liaison to the Web site creators. The work consumed his life for over a year-and-a-half. The society owes him a huge debt of gratitude.
Dick has been an active member of the California Genealogical Society since 1983. Before tackling the monumental Web project, he was involved in various other projects for the society. Dick created signs and did other tasks for the Genealogy Fairs of past years and he also helped with the society's move to the East Bay in 1998.
Dick can pinpoint almost the exact date that he was bit by the genealogy bug. In late 1943 while on leave from the from United States Army Air Force during World War II, Dick paid a visit to his to see his grandmother before heading overseas. It was the start of a life-long fascination with his family's history.
Richard A. Smith earned a B.S. in Geology and Ed.D. in Teacher Education from Stanford University and a Masters in Science Education from the University of Northern Colorado. Professionally, Dick taught high school for several years before starting a career as professor at San Jose State University, where he taught for almost forty years. Lest you think that Dick had all those summers off, he also worked as a trainer, staff member, consultant and travel study leader for the Peace Corps – contributing his time over a period of twenty-six years, including service on the Pacific Islands Education Project from 1981-1987.
Thank you, Dick, for the enormous responsibility you have shouldered for the society.

Photograph by Kathryn Doyle, 1/12/2008, Oakland, California.

Addendum: The California Genealogical Society learned of the death of member, friend and long-time volunteer, Dick Smith, at his home in Oakland on December 13, 2009.  Dick's death was reported in the Oakland Tribune on January 13, 2010. His full biography and obituary is online at his personal website.

Wordless Wednesday

California Genealogical Society Library
Beginning Genealogy Class, October 25, 2008

Marge Bell, Assistant Director, Oakland Regional Family History Center

Photographs by Kathryn Doyle, 10/25/2008.

How Do You Do Genealogy? SAASC Tour November 18, 2008

The California Genealogical Society will be hosting members of the San Jose State University Society of American Archivists Student Chapter (SAASC) on Tuesday, November 18, 2008.

Laura Spurrier and Dick Rees will be talking to students about how to untangle family trees and how to help people trace and uncover family histories. Students will take advantage of the CGS Library resources and stay and research their own family histories after the lecture.

Christina Fidler, Library Assistant at the University of California, found CGS in a directory of local libraries. She acts as event coordinator for the northern student chapter of the Society of American Archivists (SAA) at San Jose State’s School of Library and Information Science. Christina arranges group visits as a way to connect SJSU archival students with the "amazing collections around the Bay Area" and to "provide students an opportunity to meet each other outside of their digital classrooms and gain a strong sense of community."

The volunteers at CGS are looking forward to the day!

The Great Wall of Oakland

The Great Wall of Oakland
Friday, November 7, 2008
6:00 to 8:30 p.m.
FREE
Scheduled Theme: Democracy

The best thing about the recent Information Swap Meet for the tenants of 2201 Broadway was meeting so many nice people who work "upstairs" in the Breuner Building. (We genealogy-types tend to head straight down to the "lower level" at 2201 Broadway and never really interact with our neighbors in the building.)

I've communicated with Carly Perez-Munoz, Breuner Building Operations Manager and with Chris Curtis, Metrovation’s Project Manager, but only via email, so it was a pleasure to talk with them in person.

Carly and Chris told me about the special role that the Breuner Building plays the first Friday of every month when one wall of the building at 2201 Broadway becomes "The Great Wall of Oakland" - a 100 by 100-foot outdoor screen for experimental media art. It's all part of the Art Murmur, a group of galleries in Uptown Oakland that have openings every first Friday of the month.

Chris explained, “Our idea in creating the Great Wall is to use the huge wall of our building at 2201 Broadway to provide a unique public venue for Oakland artists to display their visual artistry. We think the Great Wall of Oakland is an excellent addition to the Arts and Entertainment character of the Uptown District.

The Oakland Great Wall and Art Murmur gallery walk is now in its second year. The Great Wall overlooks Grand Avenue just west of Broadway, above a parking lot behind Luka’s Taproom & Lounge.

Graphic from the Oakland Cultural Arts Web site.